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About the Initiative

The Oklahoma Arts Council's Creative Aging Initiative was launched in 2021 through grant funding provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy. The initiative was launched to build capacity across the state for community-based arts education programs serving older adults. Creative aging programs offer improved quality of life for this fast growing segment of the population. Through the initiative, the Oklahoma Arts Council is leading professional development opportunities, advisory groups, and statewide convenings. Receive updates about the initiative.

Creative Aging Partnership Grants

The Creative Aging Partnership Grant offers Oklahoma organizations support to build and expand arts learning opportunities for older adults through teaching artist residencies and workshops. Applications for grant funding of up to $15,000 to support creative aging programming are being accepted through September 16, 2024.

Events

Oklahoma Creative Aging Exchange III
May 2, 2025
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Enid Symphony Orchestra
301 W. Broadway Ave.
Enid, Oklahoma 73701
Register here

The Oklahoma Creative Aging Exchange is a day-long professional development convening featuring presentations, panel discussions, performances, and breakout sessions centered on ways to improve quality of life for older Oklahomans through the arts. Topics covered include creating and implementing creative aging programs; best practices in facilitating arts education for older adults; and, ways to support and sustain programs through funding opportunities. Oklahoma Creative Aging Exchange III is free and open to everyone. The program is ideal for individuals involved in the health, aging, and social service fields; individuals from arts organizations; teaching artists, and others.

Music's Impact on Dementia and the Brain
May 1, 2025
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Register here

Join us for an insightful and informative webinar led by Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, an internationally renowned expert in music therapy and neurologic rehabilitation. Dr. Tomaino will explore the powerful effects of music on the brain, particularly in relation to dementia and aging. Drawing on decades of research and clinical experience, she will explain how music can improve brain function and enhance quality of life for individuals across various health conditions. This webinar is ideal for artists, administrators, and educators across all arts disciplines, as well as healthcare practitioners and aging service providers. Whether you are involved in program development, direct care, or arts-based initiatives for older adults, this session will provide valuable knowledge on the therapeutic potential of music and the arts. Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, is an internationally recognized leader in music therapy and neurologic rehabilitation. As the Executive Director and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, she has dedicated her career to researching and applying music’s therapeutic effects on the brain.

This webinar is made possible by funding through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET)

Resources

Oklahoma Arts and the Military Grants – funding available from the Oklahoma Arts Council to support arts programs serving military-connected individuals in our state. 

Oklahoma Teaching Artist Roster- a vetted resource list of teaching artists managed by the Oklahoma Arts Council available for connecting professional teaching artists with learners of all ages in schools and communities throughout the state.

Aging Our Way – a collaborative effort led by Oklahoma Human Service to create a comprehensive plan to prepare the state for an impending—and significant—demographic shift.

Alzheimer’s Music Project – works to improve the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia by providing a compact mp3 player and a personalized music playlist of their most beloved songs and artists.

Community Arts Learning Grants – funding available from the Oklahoma Arts Council to support creative aging programs statewide.

Creative Aging Foundations – a free, self-paced online course by Lifetime Arts designed for institutions and individuals seeking to run successful, participatory artmaking programming for older adults. The course serves as a guide for planning programs and developing the necessary partnerships to support cross-sector creative aging work. 

Creative Aging Strategy Sampler – features research and examples of model programs outlined by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies that can inspire you as you create your own creating aging programs. 

Dances for PD – an award-winning program offering specialized dance classes to people with Parkinson’s disease. 

Gaining Momentum: A Frameworks Communications Toolkit – a resource for the field of aging to help build a better understanding of what it takes to create a more age-integrated society. This will support your marketing efforts and program recruitment.

Lifetime Arts – a national leading organization in creative aging program development that catalyzes and connects people, funding, practical strategies, and bold ideas necessary to embrace older adults as creative and social learners. 

Music and Memory – a program to support people in nursing homes and other care organizations who suffer from a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges to find renewed meaning and connection in their lives through the gift of personalized music.  

Old School Clearinghouse – an index of resources to educate people about ageism. 

Opening Minds Through Art – a course about intergenerational arts-based programming, showing benefits for both older adults living with dementia and younger adults who serve as volunteers. Learn how to better engage and support the creative process of people living with dementia through an example case study. 

The Creativity and Aging Study – a study by Dr. Gene Cohen about the importance of professionally conducted cultural programs for older adults. Highlights powerful data creative aging program providers can share with partners and stakeholders about the importance. 

Timeslips – a creative storytelling program for people with dementia that can be learned and used by teaching artists, caregivers, and aging service providers.  

Questions?
For more information contact our Arts Learning in Communities Director.